Former Phillie Ben Lively re-signs with Korea’s Samsung Lions

Per South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Ben Lively has signed a one-year, 700 thousand dollar contract with the Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization. The 27-year-old former Phillie will earn 500 thousand dollars in guaranteed money with another 200 thousand in performance incentives.

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Lively began the 2019 season in Triple-A with the Omaha Storm. In 42 innings pitched, he posted a 4-1 record with a 4.07 ERA and 5.58 FIP. After a poor start to the season as a member of the rotation, Lively was sent to the bullpen. He was then traded in June to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash and was released in August.

The former 26-round draft pick was signed by the Samsung Lions shortly after his release. His numbers improved slightly as a member of the Lions starting rotation. He had a 3.95 ERA and struck out 58 while walking 13 in nine starts.

Lively spent the majority of 2017 in the Phillies starting rotation. He posted a 6-9 record with a 4.26 ERA in 88.2 innings pitched. Lively was also in the rotation at the beginning of 2018, but struggled immensely in five outings. He caught a back injury in April, was ruled out for the season in July due to shoulder problems and was put on waivers in September.

Lively also joins former Phillie Darin Ruf and former San Francisco Giant Mac Williamson as the only three foreign born players on the team. Earlier this offseason, Aaron Altherr also made the move to Korea, signing with the NC Dinos.

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